Our podcast coordinator has rounded up the best way you can start your own podcast!
Starting your own podcast has become quite a trend in the last few years. Everyone from Former First Lady Michelle Obama to TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio have jumped on the bandwagon. From starting my own podcast – “After the Leaving” in July 2020 to becoming the proud Podcast Co-Ordinator of the HerVoice DCU podcast, I definitely have a few tricks up my sleeve to help you start your very own storytelling adventure.
Pick a theme
When starting a podcast, it is important to have a concise idea of what you want to talk about. Pick something you are passionate about whether it be fashion, sport or politics – the world is really your oyster. Have fun playing around with the name but make sure it has something to do with the topic of your podcast. This way listeners know what they are in for and try appealing to a wide audience.
Remember that you have complete creative control over the entire process! Keep your episodes a similar length of time – 20 minutes is usually golden and decide how often and when you want to upload. Also, consider teaming up with friends if you aren’t comfortable talking to yourself for a long period of time. Include segments or breaks between the conversation, to create a sense of structure and flow to your episodes. Try to engage with your audience as much as possible by having them send their own voice recording or ideas.
Equipment and editing
I can not stress enough that you do not need to spend lots of money to have a successful podcast! Do not jump in to buy a high end microphone only for it to collect dust if you lose interest. Start off by recording the first few episodes into your phone or tablet. It will be far less intimidating and will get you more comfortable with basically talking to yourself. When you have decided you are fully committed to the podcast game, I highly recommend getting the Blue Yeti USB Microphone. It plugs straight into your computer via USB and records the most high quality audio ever!
Audacity is a free and easy software to help you edit your podcast. Youtube has millions of tutorials on how to use its features. Mastering the basics of putting your segments together and cutting out all the unnecessary pauses, gives your podcast a polished sound. Editing can often be time consuming but it has quickly become my favourite part of the creative process.
Launching it into the world
Now, that you have an episode fully recorded and edited, it is time to release it! The easiest way to make your podcast available on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts, is to make an account with a podcast distributor. Anchor.fm is a sister brand of Spotify and will upload your podcast to all platforms for free. It takes out the hassle of manually distributing and gives you the option to schedule your episodes to go up on a certain time.
Finally, create an Instagram or Twitter account to promote your podcast. The more people that are aware of your recent uploads, the more listeners you will get. It is also a good way to know what your audience likes or dislikes about your content. Building up a loyal listenership will increase your chances of growing the podcast beyond your wildest dreams.
Make sure you tune in every Sunday for a new episode of the HerVoice DCU Podcast and reach out to us on social media if you would like to get involved!